Spending cuts at the federal level could affect our experience checking out books at local libraries.
The South Haven Memorial Library this week released a statement outlining just how cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services under an executive order signed March 14 could trickle down to users. Primarily, it says this could lead to the loss of the Michigan Electronic Library — or MeL — and MeLCat. Those two services enable libraries to loan materials to each other across the state.
The South Haven Memorial Library says in 2024 alone, there were more than 980,000 items loaned to patrons across the state through the service. It goes on to say, “The library could also lose access to MeL funded databases that provide authoritative sources on education, medicine, business, and history, among other topics.”
The library recommends that anyone with concerns contact their member of Congress.
